Stain it

I haven't been blessed with naturally red lips like some of my friends so I am left to try my best with all the lipsticks, glosses etc. in hopes of avoiding the walking dead look. The only trouble I find with lipsticks and glosses is that it doesn't take long before I have pretty much eaten all the colour from my lips.

I have often wondered exactly how many tubes I have consumed over the years and if they are all still sitting in my stomach next to the maraschino cherries and wads of chewing gum.

So what better than a stain.



THE PRODUCT: BENETINT POCKET PAL

PRODUCT CLAIM: It is kiss proof amd water-proof and that you can use it not only on the lips but on the cheeks as well. It is supposed to give you sheer colour for an "innocent, yet provactive glow" ???

THE EXPERIENCE: The suggested way to use it is to apply it to the lips with a q-tip as a base for any lipstick or lipgloss you prefer to use on top. For the cheeks they suggest drawing 3 stripes across the cheeks and blending it in circular motions with your fingertips. I didn't go for the 3 stripes only because it seemed a bit too much but it is best to blend it in with your fingertips for the best placement. As for the lips I found blending it in with fingertips worked best.

THE VERDICT: I have to admit, I really liked this product. For the cheeks it does give you that rosy glow that seems natural even for the oddest of skintones like myself. For the lips you just need to make sure that they are not dry or cracked otherwise you will end up looking like an extra from a zombie movie. Also you will want to make sure that you spread it more towards the outer parts of your lips because if you don't there will be more colour on the inside looking like you have been sucking on a red lollipop. With the shiny clear gloss as a top coat you end up with a really nice effect.

As for the lasting colour, it will last longer than any lipstick and keeps its colour long after the gloss has worn off. For the cheeks pretty much all day.

MARKS: 10/10

PRICE $20

NOTE: Just be careful when opening the tint. Make sure it is upright otherwise you will have everywhere but on your lips.

Polish Away

I was lucky enough to get Chanel exofliating gel as a gift so I didn't need to shell out the cash for it. With Chanel you expect pretty good stuff, in this case well........



PRODUCT NAME: Gommage Microperle Eclat Maximum Radiance Exfoliating Gel

PRODUCT CLAIM: This is supposed to bring out the skin's "natural luminosity" with its pearl powders and jojoba microbeads.

THE EXPERIENCE: The gel is fairly thick as you would expect but I didn't feel like I was cleansing my face as much as massaging it with a grainy oily cream. After rinsing I was left with a film on the skin that is of course meant to hydrate, which is fine, but it didn't feel like I had done any unveiling of "natural luminosity". I ended up washing with some soap to get rid of the greasy film.

THE VERDICT: For the price I would rather go for a different product. If you tend to suffer from dry skin and find most exfoliators drying then perhaps this is a better choice. As for normal to oily skin types don't bother.

MARKS: 6/10

PRICE: $42

Shrink Those Pores

Here are some products I have tried in my never ending search for that magic pore eraser.





PRODUCT NAME: Biore deep cleansing pore strips

PRODUCT CLAIM: Instantly pulls out the oil and dirt usually in the form of blackheads even in those hard to reach places??
It is also designed to reduce the appearance of pores with regular use which is at least once a week.

THE EXPERIENCE: You need to follow the directions carefully or you won't get the full benefit of the strips. Make sure
your face is well washed and it is wet enough for the strip to go on much like a piece of plaster. I let it dry
longer than the reccommended 10-15 minutes. I suggest waiting until it feels completely dry. Then peel
gently while trying to keep the skin taught. There is a little discomfort that is about as bad as a bandaid.

VERDICT: What you pull out of your pores isn't pretty but it is quite satisfying to see the gunk on the strip and no
longer on your face. It works well and manages to pull out quite a bit.

MARKS: 9/10

NOTE: If you want to get at those stubborn blackheads and want a really deep extraction then go for the Ultra
deep cleansing pore strips. (10/10)